UNM Law Students Join in to Clean up the Bosque

Eighteen UNM law students, mostly members of the Class of 2015, spent a hot afternoon participating in the Great Bosque River Clean-Up at the Rio Bravo Picnic Area in Albuquerque. The students, joined by three employees of the City of Albuquerque Open Space division, picked up cans, plastic and styrofoam in the bosque forest along the Rio Grande.

During the August afternoon, Kent Swanson, an associate planner with the Open Space Division, pointed out to students a porcupine taking refuge in a high tree branch. The law students’ productivity, on the other hand, was evident in the 20 garbage bags they filled with trash. Their haul Included five bags of glass, plastic, cardboard and aluminum, all of which the city recycled. They also filled up one bag with industrial solvents and paints that were delivered to the city’s hazardous materials center, and a large sheet of metal siding.

“We appreciate the students willing to come out and get dirty,” said Swanson. “It’s not a glamorous job, but we welcome groups wanting to help out.” Other Open Space officers on hand were Jim Sattler and Susannah Abbey.

The event was organized by the Environmental Law Society (ELS) and the Open Space Division. “Many thanks to everyone who attended and helped make a difference,” said Ed Merta (`14), ELS co-vice president.

August 21, 2012

UNM School of Law
1117 Stanford NE MSC11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001